Validity of self-reports of criminal activity in psychiatric inpatients.
Self reports of criminal activity are known to be valid in general populations. Little is known about the validity of self-reports of crime in psychiatric inpatients. A group of 41 psychiatric inpatients had their self-reported arrests contrasted with their official arrest records. Sixty-six percent of the patients gave accurate reports. Twelve percent denied having arrests when their record showed arrests. Twenty-two percent reported arrests when their official records showed none. The authors discuss the implications of these findings.
Convit
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, Manhattan Psychiatric Center, New York.
O'Donnell
J
J
Volavka
J
J
D003415:Crime; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D010361:Patients; D011996:Records; D012650:Self Disclosure